Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2023-06-26

Sri Lanka's Chairmanship of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) 2023 - 2025

- The Chairmanship of Indian Ocean Rim Association which consists of 23 member States bordering the Indian Ocean, is to be handed over to Sri Lanka in October 2023 by Bangladesh, the current Chairman of the organization. Action should be taken to strengthen the regional cooperation for the development of the region and member States during the period of holding the Chairmanship. Accordingly, the joint proposal made by the Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to establish a National Task Force under the Chairmanship of a Senior Officer of the Presidential Secretariat and comprising of representatives from the relevant Ministries and Institutions, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to set up a Secretariat for a period of two years, was approved by the Cabinet.